Trunk lock



Aug. 6, 1929-. B. H. ERWIN Tnuxx Loox Filed octj. 2'?. 19726 2 Sheets-Sheetl '1 All@ 6, 1929. B. H. ERwlN l 1,723,020

l TRUNK Loox A Filed Oct. 27. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet E vLio Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED ASTATES 1,723,020 PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN H. ERWIN, OIE MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INDESTRUCTO TRUNK COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TRUNK LO CK.

This invention relates to trunk locks and specifically'to those locks which areY actuated by movement of the hasp to draw the trunk sections together when locking the trunk and separate them when unlocking it. Among other objects the invention aims to provide a trunk lock of this character which is particularly easy to operate and which is especially eiective in drawing together and separating the trunk sections.

The invention may be understood by reference to one illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing a portion of a trunk equipped with the improved lock; Y v v l Fig. 2 is a similar view looking fromA the opposite side ofthe trunk with parts broken away to illustrate the construction more clearly; Y. p' Y Fig. 3 is a section lon line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig, 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the edges ofthe trunk sections separated;

l Fig. 5 is asection on line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the part-s yin the position which they assume when the hasp has been moved about half way toward its locked position; and I Y Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing ythe positions of the parts when the hasp is moved to its outermost position. v l v Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs.

1 and 2, there are shown portions of sections 10 and 11 of a trunk, for example, a wardrobe trunk, the meeting edges of which are reinforced by the usual metallic Valances, one of which, the valance 12, is shown in Fig. 1. To guide the edges of the trunk duringclosing, the usual dowels 13 areprovided. It will be understood that to conserve space, only a portion ofthe-trunk is shown and thatv therefore only one pair of dowels is included, Abut that in'a commercial trunk several such pairs are Vor-di-narily employed. y v

' At any convenient point along one of the edges of the trunkahasp 14 is pivotally connected to thetrunk as at 15, so-as to swing in a plane at right angles to the face of the trunk, and connect the two trunk sections together. The hasp 14' carries a key controlledl lock 16 near its outerA end and said key controlled lock engages with an escutcheony plate 17 to lockthe trunk when the hasp` isswung into engagement with the escutcheon, as bestv shown in Application filed, October 27, 1926. Serial No. 144,450.

Fig. 5. The parts so far 'described may be of conventional construction.

In order to eiect locking and unlocking of the trunk by independent locking devices actuated upon swinging of the hasp 14, a rod 18 is carried by trunk section 10 parallel to the edge thereof and is connected with the hasp, by a llnkage to be described, so that the rod may be rocked on .its axis. The rod 18 is carried-within loops 19 providing bearings for the rod. At suitable intervals along the rocking rod 18, one or more locking members 2O iS fixed, said members each having a hook-like form as shown in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, and being` so shaped and arranged as to engage with members fixed upon the opposite edge of the trunkto draw the trunk sections together. Because of space limitations, and the scale of the drawings, only one locking member is shown. In this instance the opposite trunk section 1l isfprovided with a metallic strap 21 secured on the inside of the trunk and extending at right angles to the edge and projecting across said edge as shown in Fig. 3, being provided with an eye 22 so located that the corresponding hook-like locking member 20 will engage with the eye of the strap when the trunk sections are separated as much as 1 in. or more, whereby the trunk sections may be brought ytogether as the locking member is rocked. The eye k22 is so located and shaped and the hook-like member 2O is so formed that the outer edge of the hook? like member will engage with the strap 21 when rocked from the full line position of Fig. 3 to the dotted line position, thereby forcing the trunk sections apart. Y

A drawback of trunk locks ot the described type has been the difliculty of bringing together and separating the trunk sections when the edges are not precisely parallel, whether arising from injury to the trunk or to play in the trunk hinges or to unevenness of the 'surface on which the trunk is standing. `If the trunk edges are not precisely parallel, when drawn together they will meet at a point and complete closing may then be effected only by striking one ot the trunk edges near the point where closing is obstructed. Furthermore, the mechanical connections translating the movement of the hasp into movement of the auxiliary locking devices have frequently been such that considerable Vforce must be used to close and open the trunk. According which swings in a slot 27 provided in and exing kerfs 25 for receiving the hasp 14 edge-V wise,'being held against transverse movement by the hinge, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These two arms are thus united with the hasp to turn therewith about the hinge axis and 1n Y effect make the hasp a bell crank lever having a short arm and a long arm (the hasp proper), the preferred arrangement aii'ording a mechanical advantage of about 6: 1. The rockable rod 18 hasan arm 26 secured thereto tending transversely of the edge of trunk section 10. The two arms joined to the hasp and thearm 26 connected with the rockable rod are operatively connected by a link 28 which is'pivoted-to the outer end of arm 26 and pivotally connected to 'a pin29 extending between the outer endsl of the two arms 23. As will be noted from Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the two arms 23 extend generally at an obtuse angle tothe plane of the hasp and the parts are so arranged that when the hasp is about half way closed, as in Fig. 6, the hook-like locking member is about in the position wherein it meets with the greatest resistance when opening o r closing a trunk, while the force exerted to cause rocking of the rod 18 is most effective because the'link 28 is then about at rightk angles to the line of force through the link. See also Fig. 7. However, when the trunk is locked, as shown in Fig. 5, the linkage is in such position that again a maximum force may be exerted to open the trunk. When the hasp is in its open position of Fig. 7 further swinging movement is prevented by means of a stopBO formed on one or more of the hook-like locking devices, said stop'also preventing the linkage from assuming a dead center position.

A lock constructed as shown and described is inexpensive to manufacture, is strong'and serviceable and may be depended upon to close forcibly and to open in like manner the most tightly'tting trunk sections.

. Obviously the present invention is not re-- l stricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreovenit is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations as defined in the claims.

ates t-he locking devices; said linkage comprisingan arm rigidly secured to the hasp v adjacent the hinge and extending at an obtuse angle to the general plane of the hasp, an arm rigidly secured to the rocking rod about in the plane of said hasp-carried arm, and a link pivotally secured to both of said arms near theouter or free ends of each.

'2. A trunk lock comprising, in combina.- tion, a hinged hasp with a lock at its free end; a rod arranged parallel to the hinge axis; locking devices secured to the rod; and a linkage connecting the hasp andthe rod' so that swinging of the hasp rocks the rod and actuates thelocking devices; said linkage comprising an arm rigidly secured to the hasp adjacent the hinge and extending at anrobtuse angle to the general plane of the hasp, an arm rigidly secured to the rocking rod about-in the plane of said hasp-carried arm, and a link pivotally secured to bo-th of said arms near the outer or free ends of each; and stop means carried by the rocking rod-to limit in one direction the arcuate movement of said locking devices, and to prevent the linkage from assuming a dead-center position.

3. A trunk lock comprising, in combination, a hinged hasp provided with akey lock at its free end; swingable locking devices controlled by swinging oit the hasp to draw the edges of the trunk together or force them apart; a rod rockable onits axis and carrying -said locking devices; and Vmeans interposedV between'the hasp and rod to rock the same; said means including 'a' short-arm split to embrace the Vhinged end of the hasp and the hinge pintle, and forming with the hasp a bell crank lever for-actuation of the locking devices. n l ,Y

4. A trunk lock comprising, in combination, a .hasp hinged to the trunk andhaving a lock at its free end; a rod carried by the trunk parallel to the hinge axis of the .hasp and being rockable on its axis; and a linkage connecting the hinged end, of the hasp with the rod to effect rocking of the rod through` a Vsmaller arcl than the are through which the hasp moves and hook-like locking devices secured to said rod and movable thereby to force the trunksections together or to separate them forcibly according to the direction of movement. f

5. A trunk lock comprising, in combina.- tion, a hasp hinged to the trunk and having a lock at its-.free end, andj swingable in a plane at right angles to the'rface of the trunk; a rod carried by the trunk near one edge and so mounted as to rock on its axis; locking' members secured to therod to be oscillated thereby; and movement-reduction connections betweenthehasp and the rodV and so constructed and arranged that a movement of the hasp greater than 90 swings the locking members through arcs less than 90, to force the trunk sections together or to separate them 5 forcibly, according to the direction of move ment.

6. A trunk lock comprising, in combination, a hinged hasp; an arm extending' from the hinged end of the lia-sp; a rockable rod 10 mounted on the trunk and carrying a locking device; an arm fixed to said rod to facilitate rocking of the same; and means connecting the two arms together so arranged relative thereto that substantially the maximum turning moment is applied to the second named arm when said locking device oiers the greater resistance.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciication.

BENJAMIN H. ERIVIN. 

